Collaborative Learning Activities for the Writing Classroom
1) Have students form pairs and exchange papers with each other, They then read the other student's paper and fill out a peer reviewing questionnaire (with questions formulated beforehand by the instructor) related to the structure and content of the paper. Questions to consider including are:
Does the student have a thesis? If so, is it clear?
Does the student provide good supporting details?
Is the paper well organized?
Does each paragraph stay with it's topic or does it stray to other tangential topics?
Are there sentences that are unclear in the paper?
2) Conduct writing workshops in the classroom where, as an entire class, students read a particular student's essay and then discuss and critically analyze the essay in order to improve and expand upon their own writing abilities.
3) Have students read about a particular grammar rule. Then ask students to form pairs. Each pair studies a particular rule and then those students formulate original sentences, applying the rule to that sentence. One pair at a time, students come to the board and present their rule and their sentence.
4) Allow students to to design their own prompts or come up with their own topics for assignments. At times, it can be helpful to suggest topics for students (as some students prefer more direction). Other students will blossom creatively if allowed the freedom to choose their own topic.
5) Conduct a class discussion where students discuss the components of the revision process. Then have them revise and edit their own papers for content and grammar. Provide red marking pens so they can mark up their own paper.
Collaborative Learning Activities for the Writing Classroom
1) Have students form pairs and exchange papers with each other, They then read the other student's paper and fill out a peer reviewing questionnaire (with questions formulated beforehand by the instructor) related to the structure and content of the paper. Questions to consider including are:
2) Conduct writing workshops in the classroom where, as an entire class, students read a particular student's essay and then discuss and critically analyze the essay in order to improve and expand upon their own writing abilities.
3) Have students read about a particular grammar rule. Then ask students to form pairs. Each pair studies a particular rule and then those students formulate original sentences, applying the rule to that sentence. One pair at a time, students come to the board and present their rule and their sentence.
4) Allow students to to design their own prompts or come up with their own topics for assignments. At times, it can be helpful to suggest topics for students (as some students prefer more direction). Other students will blossom creatively if allowed the freedom to choose their own topic.
5) Conduct a class discussion where students discuss the components of the revision process. Then have them revise and edit their own papers for content and grammar. Provide red marking pens so they can mark up their own paper.